Saidnaya, Syria, left is St. Aphrem’s Monastery, which is next to the Little Angel’s Orphanage for children who have lost their parents during the recent civil war

Saidnaya, Syria

Syria

The level of persecution in Syria is extreme.

With the violence of civil war and ISIS in recent years, Syria has been become a devastation. Until 2011, Syria’s Christians comprised 10% of the population, approximately two million. Syrians now are one of the largest refugee groups, but many still live around Damascus and Aleppo. ISIS killed and kidnapped Christians in Syria and destroyed almost all churches in its territory. Religious leaders have been a main target for violent Islamic groups. Current civil war still threatens the region with Christians being the most marginalized.

Christianity dates back to the first century. On the road to Damascus, Paul the Apostle underwent his dramatic conversion. Greek Orthodox Christians are the largest in Syria with Baptists, Evangelicals, and Pentecostals as easy targets. Please support Christians in Syria.

Iraq

With some of the oldest continuous Christians communities in the world, Iraq is one of the ancient homelands of Christianity. Christians are attacked by many radical groups, such as ISIS, and by political and religious leaders in the country.

India

Christianity is the third most followed religion in India. Christians are targeted by Hindu and Muslim radical groups because they are viewed as outsiders who need to be cleansed. Persecution is often violent, taking the form of physical assault or murder, especially to converts of Christianity.